Shoulder pad



April 29 1947.

MAN

SHOULDER g 2 Sheet 1 Filed Oct 8, 5

ztor BERNARD FREEMAN B. FREEMAN April 29, 1947.

SHOULDER PAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1945 xxxx BERNARD FREEMAN wrw Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,419,830

SHOULDER. PAD

Bernard Freeman, Philadelphia, Pa. Application October 8, 1945, Serial No. 620,961

Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to garment shoulder pads and more particularly to certain improvements in the design and construction thereof whereby the pad is both transversely and longitudinally arched in such manner as to broaden and raise the shoulder outwardly from the neck-line of the garment in which the pad is employed and at the same time present the shoulder with the square appearance which is now so much in vogue.

Among the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a pad which is pro-formed in its curvature both transversely and longitudinal-1y, and which is so constructed that it is selfsustaining in its pre-formed shape, the pad of the present invention being principally characterized by the fact that while it is transversely of generally convex shape, in the direction extending lengthwise of the pad, that is, outwardly from the neck-line of the garment in whiclrthe pad is employed, the pad is of a compound curvature to produce a lift at its outer edge. Thus, the pad of the present invention provides an upward lift to the garment at the outer edge of. the shoulder, this life being. permanently maintained due to the inbuilt arched configuration of the pad.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention consists substantially in the combination, construction, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in the appended claims. In the said accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pad constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1-;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the pad;

Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, but showing a portion" of the upper panel broken away to reveal the internal construction of the pad;

Figure 6 is a plan View of the blanks employed to form the upper panel of the pad;

Figure 7 is a plan View of the blank constituting the intermediate panel of the pad;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the blank constituting the auxiliary intermediate panel of the pad; and 1 Figure 9 is a plan View of the blank forming the bottom panel of the pad.

Referring now to the drawings, it will. be observed that the pad of the present invention, designated generally by the, reference numeral i0, is of such construction that while its rela-: tively thin lateral edges H-ll and rear edge l2 all lie in a common plane, its padded central body portion I3 is transversely arched upwardly with respect to said plane to provide the pad with a generally convex top surface I 4 and a generally concave bottom surface l5. In addition, it will be noted that the lengthwise configuration of the pad, that is, frontally of its rear edge I2, is of a.

compound curvature which is particularly evident along the central median line of the pad, this curvature being generally such that the thickened portion of the pad is raised above the plane aforesaid to provide a pronounced lift to its frontal edge l6; Further, the internal padding material confined between the top and bottom panels of the pad is so arranged as to provide the pad with a gradually increasing thickness from each of its lateral edges I |l l toward" its central median line and from its rear edge l2 toward its raised frontal edge l6.

Asv has already been indicated, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pad which is self-sustaining in the shape thereof as just described, this object being attained in the manner and by the means now to be described. As will be understood, the padding I1, which serves as the filler for the pad, may be of any suitable resilient material, such as cotton, .wool or other light, fiufiy material, this material being prefer-- ably laid in sheet form between the top and bottom panels of the pad to provide the latter with. its requisite graduated thickness transversely and longitudinally of the pad.

The top surface material of the pad is formed of a pair of pieces |8|8 of buckram or other similar stifiened fabric, each of the shape shown in Figure 6, these pieces being cut on the bias to providestraight edges l9|9 which are secured together, as at 20, to form the top cover member of the pad. Due to the bias cut of these pieces 18-48, the top cover member formed thereof is capable of stretch in all directions, thereby insuring a uniformly smooth top surface for the pad even when the body thereof is curved as hereinbefore described.

The bottom surface material of the pad is formed of a piece 2! of relatively soft and flexible fabric, of the shape shown in Figure 9; This bottom piece 2| is substantially of the. come 3 bined shape and size of the top pieces l8l8, the central portion of this bottom piece being folded upon itself, as at 22, to contract its front edge 23 to a width somewhat less than the overall width of the corresponding edge of the top cover member of the pad. Or, if desired, the member 2| may be initially cut with its front edge 23 somewhat narrower than the combined width of. the corresponding edge of the top cover member, the rear edges of the top and bottom members of the pad being of substantially the same reduced width. It will be apparent that when the top and bottom members are secured together with their perimetral edges in substantial coincidence, the bottom member will cause the relatively wider top member to assume the transversely curved condition shown in Figures 1 to with the bottom member under more or less tension tending to maintain the pad in such transverse curvature. Where the bottom member 2| is centrally folded upon itself, as at 22, to contract its front edge 23, by varying the extent of the fold 22 a greater'or lesser degree of transverse curvature for the pad may be obtained, it being understood, of course, that the folded-over central portion of the bottom member 2|, which is generally of the tapered for'm shown in dotted lines in Figure 9, is sewed together, as at 24, to obtain the desired shape and size of the bottom member and so maintain the transverse curvature of the pad.

In order to obtain the" desired longitudinal curvature of the pad, an auxiliary panel 25 is employed in the nature of a foundation sheet for the pad, this panel being of buckram or other stiffened material and of a shape and size generally conforming to the over-all shape and size of the pad. However, in its initially prepared form (see Figure '7) the rear end 26 of this foundation panel 25 is somewhat narrower than the width of the rear end of the finished pad, the panel 25 being slitted along the line 26 from its rear edge for a distance approximately twothirds of the length of the panel.

This slitted panel 25 is disposed immediately beneath the top cover member of the panel formed of the bias-cut pieces Ill-I8, with the slit portions 21-2I thereof pulled apart as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7 and in full lines in Figure 5. It will be apparent that as these portions 21-27 are laterally separated while maintaining their rear ends in a common plane, the forward unslitted portion of the panel will rise out of said plane and thus impart a lift to the forward end of the pad. The desired degree of lift depends upon the extent of separation of the parts 21-21, these latter being held in their separated relation by stitching them to a relatively stiff piece of material 28 of the shape and size shown in Figure 8, this member 28 being disposed beneath the slitted portion of the member 25. (See also Figure 5.) Preferably, the separated parts 21-21 of the member 25 are stitched to the member 28 by the transversely extending lines of stitching 29 which extend through all of the superimposed elements of the pad to hold and secure them in their proper assembled relation. If desired, the lateral side edges H-H and the rear edge l2 of the pad may be finished with a binding tape 30 secured in position by means of stitches 3|.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention is susceptible of various changes which may be made from time to time without departing from the real spirit or general prin- 2,419,sso

ciples of the present invention, and it is accordingly intended to claim the same broadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A shoulder pad of the character described comprising a padded body member generally triangular in outline and of gradually increasing thicknes inwardly from each of the lateral edges toward' the longitudinal'rnedian line thereof as well as outwardly from the rear edge thereof, said body member including top and bottom surface coverings, a resilient filling material interposed therebetween and a form-retaining member of relatively stiff material disposed immediately beneath the top surface covering, said lastmentioned member being centrally slit in its rear end to provide a pair of co-planar portions adapted to be spread apart to elevate the frontal or outer end of the padded body member above the plane of the relatively thin lateral and rear edges of the pad.

2. A shoulder pad of the character described comprising a padded bodymember generally triangular in outline and of gradually increasing thickness inwardly from each of the lateral edges toward the longitudinal median line thereof as well as outwardly from the rear edge thereof, said body member including top and bottom surface coverings, a, resilient filling material interposed therebetween and a form-retaining member of relatively stiff material disposed immediately beneath the top surface covering, said last-mentioned member being centrally slit in its rear end to provide a pair of co-planar portions adapted to be spread apart to elevate the frontal or outer end of the padded body member above the plane of the relatively thin lateral and rear edges of the pad, and means for securing said co-planar portions of the form-retaining member in their spread-apart relation whereby to maintain the frontal or outer portion of the pad-in its elevated position as aforesaid.

3. A shoulder pad of the character described comprising a padded body member generally triangular in outline and of gradually increasing thickness inwardly from each of the lateral edges toward the longitudinal median line thereof as well as outwardly from the rear edge thereof, said body member including top, and bottom surface coverings, a resilient filling material interposed therebetween and a form-retaining member of relatively stiff material disposed immediately beneath the top surface covering, said last-mentioned member being centrally slit in its rear end to provide a pair of co-planar portions adapted to be spread apart to elevate the frontal or outer end of the padded body member above the plane of the relatively-thin lateral and rear edges of the pad, and means forimparting a transverse curvature to the body member, said means being operative to render the'pad self-sustaining in its said transverse curvature.

4. A shoulderpad ofthe character described comprising a padded bodymember generally triangular in outline and of gradually increasing thickness inwardly from each of the lateral edges toward the longitudinal median line thereof as well as outwardly from the rear edge thereof, said body member including top and bottom surface covering-s, a resilient filling material interposed therebetween and-a form-retaining member of relatively stiff material disposed immediately bee neath' the top surface covering, said last-mentioned member being centrally slit in its rear end toward the longitudinal median line thereof as well as outwardly from the rear edge thereof, said body member includ n top and bottom surface coverings, a resilient filling material interposed therebetween and aform-retaining member of relatively stiff material disposed immediately beneath the top surface covering, said last-mentioned member being centrally slit in its rear end to provide a pair of co-planar portions adapted to be spread apart to elevate the frontal or outer end of the padded body member above the plane of the relatively thin lateral and rear edges of the pad, means for securing said co-planar portions of the form-retaining member in their spread-apart relation, and means for commonly securing together all of the parts aforesaid consisting of a plurality of transversely extending lines of stitches.

BERNARD FREEMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,329,496 Walcoff Sept. 14, 1943 2,395,024 Tangorra Feb. 19, 1946 2,365,280 Lahm Dec. 19, 1944 2,170,199 Hawkins et a1. Aug. 22, 1939 359,441 Goldman Mar. 15, 1887 814,395 Raphael Mar. 6, 1906 

